Mabton FFA chapter hosts awards banquet

Jesenia Meza receives the Star Chapter Degree from Jose Cruz during the Mabton FFA awards banquet on Tuesday night. Meza was also named the Mabton chapter's president for 2013-14 and Cruz was re-appointed to the treasurer's post.

MABTON - The Mabton High School FFA chapter held its annual awards banquet this past Tuesday night, bestowing several honors on its membership and recognizing the community's support.

The Mabton chapter also presented appreciation awards to the community.

"Without your continued support of us, the Mabton FFA chapter would not be as successful," Vasquez said prior to appreciation award presentations to: Dave Hanson for work with the marketing team, Karen Mendoza for volunteering time for the state FFA convention, Nohemi Meza for helping at the state convention and serving as judge, Bryan Arellano for supervising leadership camp, Sid Leyendekker for volunteering to haul apples to the Yakima fair, Jesus and Shandee Sustaita for allowing FFA members to keep animals at their house, Nurse Cindy and Andy for helping with the fruit display at the fair, Carol Ashby for serving on the CTE advisory committee, Brock Ledgerwood for helping at the Toppenish Jr. Livestock Show and supporting the agriculture program, Northwest Horticulture for serving on the CTE advisory committee and plant donations, Elsa Sanchez for attending the national convention, the Daily Sun News for media coverage.

Also recognized were Loretta Stewart for serving as a guest judge for numerous agriculture program events and supporting the FFA plant sale, Sue Sartain for supporting FFA activities and serving as a member of the FFA Officer Interview Committee, Jose Elizondo for supporting FFA activities and events, Mike Surmeyer for supporting CTE leadership activities and events, Minerva Morales for serving as a guest judge for the FFA officer interviews and supporting CTE leadership activities, Daniece and Bill Roettger for continual support of the chapter, Jose and Alicia Meza for support of the FFA chapter as parents and active volunteers, Nick Sustaita for volunteering to take members to camp and continued support of the agricultural program, Vickie Navarro for helping out with FFA activities, Teresa Vargas for being supportive of FFA, William Schmick for allowing the FARM team to come into his classroom every Thursday, Rick Kernan for supporting the CTE department and Veronica Prieto for supporting the program and for mailing and making copies.

The Mabton FFA chapter also presented an honorary degree to Olga Parulkar for going "above and beyond your job duties" in taking care of ASB matters.

There were also lighthearted moments Tuesday night, such as singing Happy Birthday to chapter advisor Randi Krieg and humorous presentations to seniors Vanessa Sanchez and Sonia Alvarez to prepare them for the "real world.&quot